Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service)- “Ongoing formation of clergy, religious and laity is the main road for the Church in Congo to face present-day challenges” says Bishop Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku of Mbujmayi Vice president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rome for the ad limina visit. “The country needs people who are well formed from the spiritual, cultural, social and political point of view” the Bishop says. “One of the most significant examples of Church commitment in this regard is a programme of civic education organised by the local Church which helped considerably to prepare people to take part in the Constitutional referendum last December. We are continuing this programme of civic education to help people prepare for general elections.”
“The Church’s commitment to formation is vast. Whole generations of Congolese were educated at Catholic schools. Indeed we can say that our present day national leaders studied at Catholic institutes. This service and role is recognised by all” says Bishop Tshibangu.
With regard to the country’s future while not overlooking present difficulties, the Bishop presents a picture overall positive. “The challenges we face arise from the difficulties in society today. Unemployment, criminality and peace which still needs to be consolidated are some of the challenges facing the country ” the Bishop says.
“In my opinion at the basis of all lies a problem which is both spiritual and cultural” says Bishop Tshibangu. “We live in a world which is interdependent. Our young people are exposed to the same cultural influence as their peers in other countries. The television programmes watched by young people in Kinshasa are no different from those watched by the peers in Paris Brussels or Rome. This produces a deep division between our traditional values and cultural influences from abroad. This gap is felt mainly in cities, always growing. Congo like the rest of Africa suffers from growing urbanisation which empties the rural areas and overfills the cities”.
“This phenomenon” the Bishop said “produces unbalance, not only social but also psychological and spiritual, especially with the propagation of anti-Christian counter values. We see therefore a spread of sects some of local origin, others from abroad with abundant economic means, and there is also a return to superstition and forms of ‘traditional witchcraft’ ”.
“The Church in Congo to face these problems has decided to give priority to the integral formation of clergy, religious and laity, and to offer the faithful models of reference” says the Bishop of Mbujmayi. “The 20th anniversary of the beatification of Blessed Sr Clementina Anuarite Nengapeta offered us an opportunity to devote a year of prayer and reflection to the country’s first Blessed. The “Year of Anuarite” opened on 1 December 2005 and will close on 1 December 2006, with a pilgrimage to the shrine and church built at her birthplace which we hope may soon be raised to the dignity of a basilica”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/1/2006 righe 45 parole 542)
